Anthony Benjamin

Untitled

1962

Anthony Benjamin (1931– 2002) FRSA, RE was an English painter, sculptor and printmaker. Benjamin studied with the best. In 1951 he worked in Paris under Fernand Léger and in 1959 he studied with Stanley William Hayter at Atelier 17. Benjamin worked in Rome, St Ives, London, California and Calgary. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, UK In the 1950’s his work, inspired by the Cornish light, land and seascape, led him to a new understanding of tone and temper. Henry Moore and Peter Lanyon encouraged him, Francis Bacon gave him canvasses, and working within this rich atmosphere, Benjamin produced work which became more expansive, colourful and gradually more abstract in concept, sliding into Abstract Expressionism By the 1970’s Benjamin had started making sculptures that were more relevant to the exciting, modern, fast-moving transient world that was opening up at the time in London. He used modern materials, coloured plastic, fibreglass, polished metal, stainless steel and bronze. Intense glowing colour and reflections; amorphous and ambiguous shapes created works that crossed the conventional boundaries. Inspired by his close friendship with musician Brian Eno of Roxy Music, Benjamin started making series of Limited Edition silkscreen prints that used the same vibrant colours and similar shapes as the sculpture. Many from these series are in the Tate Collections in London. Benjamin’s first solo show in London was at the Institute of Contemporary Art in 1966. Following this he was quickly picked up by leading London Gallery Gimpel Fils. His work is held in major public and private collections around the world including Tate London, MoMA NY, The Smithsonian and MCA Tokyo